Lock for motor-vehicles.



D. J. NUTT LOCK FOR MOTOR VEHICLE&

APPLICATION FILED JAN- 19. I916- 1 2 l 5 35 1 o Patented Feb. 20, 1917.

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DANIEL J. NU'IT, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JAMESE.

CROSBY, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

LOOK FOR MOTOR-VEHICLES.

Application filed January 19, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Ile it known that l, DANIEL J. NUTT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Looks forMotor-Vehicles; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin th art to which it appertains to make and use the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters andfigures'of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this speeitication.

My invention relates to a lock for steering mechanism, and moreparticularly to a device for holding the steering rod of a motor drivenvehicle in fixed position, the principal object of the invention beingto prevent unauthorized operation or theft of the vehicle equipped withthe lock.

In accomplishing this object 1 have pro vided improved details ofstructure, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in theacconipanyingdrawings, wherein Figure I is a side elc ation of asteering m chanism of any ordinary type, equipped with my improved lock.

Fig. ll is a longitiulinal section of the same. showing the parts inlocked relation.

Fig. l l l is a similar view showing the' parts in operative relation.

Fig. is a cross section on the line l\'---- l Fig. lll'.

Fig. is an enlarged detail perspective view of the shifting clutchmember.

Fig. Yl is a sectional detail'view of the steering rod. the shift clutchmember and the lock bolt.

Fig. "(ll is a side elevation of the lock boss. :1 part being brokenaway to illustrate the means for anchoring a lock in the'boss.

Referring more in detail to the drawingsz-- 1 designates the dash of amotor driven vehicle. '1 a connecting rod. 3 a steering rod, havingoperative connection with the rod through a worm -l on the rod and theworm wheel 5 that is connected with the rod through a crank 5, 7 a postfor the steering post. '8 a steering wheel and 9-10 throttle andignition spark control rods which may be suitably connected respectivelywith throttle and ignition spark devices and with Specification ofLetters Iatent.

Patented Feb. 20 1917.

Serial No. 72,931.

hand levers (not shown) on the steering wheel, the parts mentioned beingof any 0rdinary construction and included in the description anddrawings merely to give a better understanding of my improvements andwithout any intention of limiting the improvements to this particularstructure.

Interposed in the housing 7 is a casing 12 through which the steeringrod 3 extends and within which it is rotatably mounted and whichn'eferably comprises the split body 13, the members of which areanchored together by tongueslt and grooves 15 in the respective members,and the ferrules 16 which serve a. anchors to the body and forornamenting the structure. The casing 12 is preferably oval in crosssection to obviate rotary movement of the split body and retain theinclosed parts in functional position.

The casing body members contain longitudinal, squared grooves 18-718having sen'ii-circular end portions 21. and slidably mounted in thesquared portions of said grooves is a clutch block 19, having a cen tralbore within which the steering rod is projected and rotatably mounted.At the upper end of said squared channel is an enlarged circular channelsection 20, which is concentric with the channel 21 through.

.which the steering rod projects, but ofsligl'ltly greater diameter thanthe part 21 in order to snugly house a sleeve. 22 which is fixed on thesteering rod and provided with a clutch face 2?) at its lower end.the'said clutch face being projected into the squared.

portions of the socket ls ls of the body and adapted for cooperationwiththe clutch face 24 on the upper end of the sliding clutch block 19.

The clutch faces of the members 19 and 22 preferably comprise squaredteeth 19-2lso that when the mo able clutch member is moved intocooperation with its 'saidsocket. Seated on the base of the socket andbearing against the end of the extension 25 is an expansion spring 27which yieldingly urges the clutch block outwardly toward the sleeve 22,so that when unrestrained the clutch block will be in engagement withthe rod sleeve and hold the steering rod in fixed position.

While the clutch block 19 may shift longitudinally along the rod and therod may rotate in the block, neither the rod nor the split casing memberhas longitudinal movement, the rod being anchored by its connection withthe steering parts and the split member by end collars 2828 that arefixed to. the rod at-opposite ends of said members.

Fixedly mounted on the clutch block 19 and extending along the casing12, is a positioning member 29, having a grip 29' at its outer end andhaving teeth 30 on the outer face of its inner end, into which matingteeth of a lock bolt maybe projected, as presently described, thepreferred construction of this part comprising an ear 30 that projectsinto the socket 31 in the clutch block, and ascrew 32 by which thepositioning member may be attached to the block, the block itself beingprovided wlth a tooth 33 at the end of the positioning member which isalso adapted for cooperation with the lock bolt.'

Mounted on the casing 12, preferably by means of the ferrules 16 is alock boss 3-1,

havinga chamber 35 opening inwardly to the interior of the clutchcasing, and having a recess 36 in one side for carrying a. lock 3Slidably mounted in'saidchamber is a bolt 39, having sockets 404l4.2 onits inner end adapted for receiving the teeth 30-33 on the slidingclutchblock, to hold the block in fixed position, it being apparent thatthe sockets 40-ftl may simultaneously house the teeth '(Figs. III-V I)to hold the block in unlocked position, or that the teeth may engage inthesockets 41-42 when the block is advanced to locked position, in orderto hold the parts in that relation.

A, bolt 39 is contained within the chamber 35 and yieldingly projectedtoward the block by a spring 45 that seats in a socket 46 in the outerend of the bolt and bears against the base of the socket and against theend of a pin 47 which rests within the housing lock boss and isprojected into the socket 46 to guide the socket during its in: Ward oroutward movement under tension of the spring or pressure of the lockcam.

The lock 37 may be of any suitable type, and comprises a pin 49 that isrotatableby a key 50 and carries a cam 51 at its inner end to seat in acam socket 552 in the adjacent face of the bolt 39, so that when the keyis moved in either direction the cam member will engage the face ofthe-socket and move the bolt accordingly to locking or unlockingengagement with the shifting clutch member. v

The lock 37 is preferably anchored in the boss 34 by dowel pins 54 thatextend through apertures in the boss into sockets 56 in the lock to holdthe'lock-in proper relation to the bolt 39.

Assuming that the parts are constructed and assembled as described, andthe vehicle in operation, the lock bolt 3!) will be drawn and thesliding clutch block 19 spaced from the mating sleeve 22 (Fig. III) sothat the steering rod may turn freely to operate the car in the ordinarymanner. Should it be desired to lock the car the operator places the keyin the lock and turns the pin to move the cam member against the camface of the bolt socket, and moves the bolt ,out-

wardly against the tension of its spring.

As soon as-the bolt is drawn the spring '37 shoots the sliding clutchmember upwardly into clutch engagement'with the sleeve 22 that is fixedon the upper portion of the steering rod, the rod being turned slightlyin either direction, if necessary, in order to permit the clutch teethto mesh. The bolt is then again shot by the lock key to permit thesockets therein toreceive the teeth on the sliding clutch member. Thesliding clutch member is then held in fixed relation and in clutchengagement with the sleeve 22. \Vith the parts in this relation, shouldan unauthorized'person attempt to operate the vehicle, it will beimpossible for him to move the steering mechanism, as the steering rodis locked to the sliding clutch block and the latter, having squaredfitting within the fixed housing, cannot turn, so that the vehicle couldnot be steered;

' lVhen the operator wishes to start the vehicle he again draws the boltby means of the key mechanism to-fr'ee the sliding clutch member, movesthe positioning arm 29 backwardly to shift the sliding clutch memberaway from the sleeve, and, when the clutch member is in open position,shoots the bolt to reestablish the locking relation thereof with'thesliding clutch member and hold the latter in spaced relation to themating clutch sleeve. The vehicle may then be operated in the usualmanner.

It is apparent that with this construction the vehicle is safeguardedagainst unauthorized use or theft, as it will be impossible for apersonto remove the car because of his inability to steer-the same whenthe steering rod-is locked. It is also apparent that the locking orunlocking may be effected easily and quickly and that the probability ofthe parts becoming accidentally displaced is remote because of thepositive locking engagement of the .bolt with the said sliding clutchmember to'prevent rotation of the red when said member is in cooperativerelation with the fixed clutch member, means extending to the exteriorof the post for actuating said sliding member, and a lock for saidactuating means.

2. In a lockfor motor vehicles, the combination with a steering post, ofa rod extending through and rotatably mounted in said post, a clutchmember fixed on the rod, a clutch member slidably mounted on the rod,yielding means for urging the sliding clutch member toward its mate, apositioning member fixed to said sliding member and extending to theexterior of the post, a lock for said positioning member and means forholding said sliding clutch member against rotation on the post.

In a lock for motor vehicles, the combination with a steering post androd, of fixed and sliding clutch members on said rod, one of the clutchmembers being revoluble and the other non-rcvoluble on the rod, a springfor urging the sliding member toward its mate, a positioning memberattached to the sliding clutch member and extending to the exterior ofthe post, and a lock comprising a bolt adapted for movement toengagement by the positioning member to prevent the return of thesliding clutch member.

4-. The combination with a steering post, oi ttiwasing on said posthaving av squared channel therein, a sleeve fixed on the post and havinga clutch end, a squared block 'slidably mounted in the squared channeland having a clutch face adapted for coiiperative engagement with theface on said sleeve, means for positioning said sliding clutch member,and a-bolt ior engagingsaid member to hold the same in selected position.

The combination with a steering post, of a housing inclosing said postand having a squared channel therein, a clutch face fixed on the post. aclutch member slidably mounted in said channel and having a I clutchtace adapted for cooperation with the from the fixed face, a spring forurging the sliding member in one direction, a positioning member formoving the sliding member against,

the tension of its spring, and a lock comprising a bolt for holdingengagenient with the sliding member when the latter is in selectedposition.

(5. The combination with a steering post, of a housing inclosing aportion of said post, a clutch face on the post within the housing, aclutch mciiibe'r slidably mounted Olttllfi post within the housing andhaving a clutch t'acc adapted for cooperation with the face on the fixedmember. teeth on said movable clutch member. a positioning memberextended to the exterior of-the housing, a bolt movable toward and fromthe movable clutch member andhaving teeth adapted for cooperation withthe teeth on said member, to hold said member in selected position, andke v operated mechanism for actuating said bolt.

7. The combination with a steering post, of a housing iiiclosiiig aportion of said post, a clutch face on the post within the housing, aclutch member slidahly mounted on the post within the housing and havinga. clutch face adapted for cooperation with the face on the fixedmember, teeth on said movable clutch member, a positioning inemberextended to.the'extcrior ot' the housing,

a bolt adapted-tor movement toward and from the movable clutchii'iembcnand having teeth adapted -t'or cooperation with the teeth onsaid member and having a cam socket, and key actuated mechanismcomprising a cam adaptedtor movement in said socket to trip the bolt. H

8. The combination with a steering post, of a housing inc-losing aportion of said post, a clutch face on the post within the housing, aclutch-meml'ici' slidably'mouiitcd on the post within the housing andhaving a clutch face adapted for cooperation with the taco on the fixedmember, tecthon said movable clutch member, a positioning mem= herextended. to the exterior of the housing, a bolt adapted for movementtoward and movable clutch member and having teeth adapted forcooperation with the teeth on said member and having 'a cam socket, keyactuated mechanism comprising a cam adapted for movement in said socketto shift the bolt, and yielding means {01" urging the bolt to lockingengagement with said clutch member.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature.

DANIEL J. NUTT.

